Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: August 17, 2008
DOES THE LORD’S CHURCH EXIST TODAY?
Ben Justice
There is no clearer truth taught in the NT than the fact that the Lord established and built but one
church (Eph. 4:4). In Matt. 16:18, Jesus made the promise to build his church, and in Acts 2, the church
became a reality. People were being added to it upon being saved from their sins (Acts 2:37-47, see esp.
v. 47). It is clear that the church was in existence at this point, for how could people be added to
something that did not exist? The Bible clearly teaches that the very same process that results in
salvation and becoming a Christian is the very same process that results in one becoming a member of
the Lord’s church (Acts 2:37-47). Thus, wherever there are Christians there is the Lord’s church in that
given location.
In the NT, we read of various congregations that existed in the first century. There was the church at
Corinth, the churches of Galatia, the church at Thessalonica, etc. These were not different churches in
the sense of being different denominations as is seen today. All of these congregations were simply the
different congregations that existed at given locations (e.g. Corinth, Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch). There
was no difference in teaching and practice, for they all taught and practiced the same things (cf. I Cor. 4:
17). There was no such thing as denominationalism in the first century. In fact, division was condemned
(cf. I Cor. 1:10-13). Yet, denominationalism is built upon that very thing. All of these local congregations
made up the one body of Christ. One can see the universal church by looking at all of the local
congregations that make it up. This does not mean, however, that the universal church is organized and
has an hierarchy. Only the local church is organized (Acts 14:23; 20:28; Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:5).
Where did all of the different churches or religious bodies that exist today come from? If we read of only
one church (one body) in the NT, then where did all of these others come from that teach and practice
things differently and contradictory? And, how can I know which one is truly the Lords, if in fact the Lord’
s church exists today? The answer to this is dilemma is very simple: LOOK AT THE IDENTIFYING
MARKS. In other words, what would identify a religious body today as the Lord’s church? Obviously, the
same as that which would identify the Lord’s church when it was originally established in the first
century. Thus, one must look at those identifying traits given in the NT. What did the church do; what
did the church teach; how did the church worship; how was the church organized? All of these questions
are vitally and crucially important in identifying the Lord’s church today. What do we learn? Please note:
1.) The Lord’s church prayed to God, through Jesus Christ (I Cor. 14:15; Acts 2:42).
2.) The Lord’s church partook of the Lord’s Supper upon the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
3.) The Lord’s church gave of their means upon the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:1-2).
4.) The Lord’s church proclaimed the Word of God (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 2 Tim. 4:2).
5.) The Lord’s church sang psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and did so congregationally (I Cor. 14:15;
Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
Anything more or less than this found in a religious body today would obviously constitute something else
other than the Lord’s church as it existed in the first century. It would, therefore, by default, be
something man established and built.
One doesn’t have to consider every single thing a church teaches or practices to know whether or not they
are identical to the church of the Bible. The “Law of Identity” says that all identifying marks must be
present — not some. Therefore, if just one thing is not identical to the church of the Bible, then it is
obviously not the Lord’s church.
If a church today teaches and practices what the church of the NT taught and practiced without addition,
subtraction, modification, or alteration whatsoever, then why wouldn’t you have the Lord’s church in
existence. The fact is, you would. Let’s take the game of baseball for example. Suppose the game of
baseball was lost for a thousand years. One day, someone discovered a baseball rulebook that told
exactly how to play the game of baseball. Would the game of baseball be a brand new game that never
existed before? Of course not; it would be the restoration of the original. The baseball rulebook would be
like seed. Seed always reproduces after its own kind. The seed (the rulebook) was planted, and the
product was the game of baseball. Now, if the rulebook had been mixed with some other kind of seed,
then you would most certainly have a brand new game that never existed. But, if you take just the
baseball rulebook (just the seed), then you would get the game of baseball — nothing more and nothing
less. This is our plea when it comes to the church. The word of God is seed (Luke 8:11). Anyone can
take the word of God (the seed) and plant it today. If they do without addition, subtraction, or alteration,
then what will be the result? The result would obviously be exactly what existed in the first century. As
long as the seed (the word of God) exists, you always have the potential that the church will be
reproduced in any day and age. If not, why not? Let it be stressed again that anywhere there are
Christians there is the church. Becoming a Christian is obeying the gospel of Christ, which includes
hearing God’s word, believing God’s word as the truth, repenting of one’s sin, confessing Jesus to be God’
s Son, and being immersed for the remission of sins. Once a person does, they become a Christian, and
the Lord adds them to his church (Acts 2:37-47).
The church is the depository of the saved (Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23). One must be in the Lord’s spiritual body
in order to be saved. Thus, salvation is found in the church — not out of the church. And, it is not to be
found in a man-made denomination.
Does the Lord’s Church exist today? The Lord’s church it its local sense may not exist at a given
location. However, if people learn the truth and obey the gospel, then the church is established at that
location. Those Christians then have the responsibility to worship God as the local church did in the
first century, to be organized as the local church was organized in the first century, and to do the exact
work that the church did in the first century. Listen to the words of Luke in Acts 2:42 — “And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” This is
what those early Christians did. Today, we can duplicate exactly what they did. If not, why not? Again,
we plead with all men to do just that.